Q&A with Missouri State Commit OF/SS Jack Duffy (Staley, 2016)

Shon PlackMissouri Scouting Director

Jack Duffy (Staley, 2016) has committed to play college baseball at Missouri State in Springfield, Missouri. Duffy is an athletic 5-foot-10 170-pound OF/SS and bats from the left side. In July, he represented Team Missouri at the PBR Future Games, posting some of the top numbers of the event. Duffy ran a 6.84 60 time, fastest of the Missouri participants. He also had an 84 mph positional velo from the out field and a 93 mph exit velo, also one of top for the event. He becomes the sixth player from Missouri’s Future Games team to commit.

Duffy is one of the reason the Staley Falcons are ranked #4 in Missouri Class 5 and will be a contender for the state championship. Duffy plays for the KC Bullets during the summer, and is currently gearing up for the spring season.

Included below, is a look into the recruiting process for Jack Duffy.

PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? Was it as expected? Easy/Difficult?

Duffy: My expectations for the recruiting process were very similar to how it actually went. I knew that in order to be seen by colleges, I needed to put myself in front of them to show them my skill-set and that’s what I did. I went to the camps of colleges I was interested in and it ended up turning out very well for me. There were definitely some difficult times in the process, but it got easier as it went along.

PBR: Did location or distance from home play a factor in your decision?

Duffy: Yes. I wanted to be able to have my distance from home so I could be given a true college experience, but also close enough for family members to be able to come see me every once in a while and not make it too hard for that to happen.

PBR: Where did Missouri State first see you? How did your relationship develop with them?

Duffy: The first place they saw me was at the PBR Futures Games. A while after that, I got in contact with the head coach, Coach Guttin, and expressed my interest in their program. I signed up for one of their camps and everything else went from there.

PBR: Who is the best player you have faced in your state, and why?

Duffy: The best player that I’ve faced in my state is Kaleb Schmidt. He’s a very dominant force on the mound and does not have a single bad pitch that he throws.

PBR: Describe your experience at the PBR Future Games last year.

Duffy: My experience at the PBR Futures Games was amazing. Not only was there a great amount of exposure, but also the whole event was run very well. Anybody that might be considering attending definitely needs to, it will be beneficial to them in more ways than they know.

PBR: What advice would you give to young baseball players striving to get where you are?

Duffy: The advice that I would give would be to never stop working because there’s always room for improvement in your game. Also, keep your head up even when you’re faced with adversity. Baseball is always referred to as a game of failure, and what defines you as a player is how you respond to it.

PBR: What do you do in the offseason to keep yourself in baseball shape and prepare for the upcoming season?

Duffy: I do many workouts that consist of lifting, running, and speed and agility. Along with that, lots of hitting and throwing at a local college facility near me.

PBR: What is the most memorable moment in your baseball career to this point?

Duffy: My most memorable moment was being able to play in a week-long tournament in Cooperstown, New York. It was great to get to see the National Baseball Hall of Fame and all the other great things there.

PBR: What do you like most about Missouri State and what were the key factors in making your decision?

Duffy: What I like most about Missouri State is the coaching staff and the overall atmosphere of the college. I really feel that the entire coaching staff will greatly help me in my development as a player and I’m excited to see what they’ll be able to do for me and what I’ll be able to do for their program. Key factors in making my decision was how well the school would be in helping me get better and also their facilities that I would be working in.

PBR: What other schools were on your short list before you made your final decision?

Duffy: Wichita State, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas State, and Stanford.

PBR: When did the recruiting process really start to heat up for you? Was there a particular game or event that you feel turned the corner for you?

Duffy: The recruiting process really started heating up for me during my sophomore year after I started playing for the KC Bullets.

PBR: Preview your high school season for us. How do you feel your team will be? What are your expectations and goals?Name some players that will play a key role for Staley in 2015.

Duffy: I feel that our team this year is going to be very solid. We have lots of players on the team that will be able to contribute towards the success that we want. Some players that will play a key role for Staley are Ross Messina, Sean Cooley,Hunter Swift, and Levi McLaughlin.

PBR: Where do you play in the summer? And what has been your most memorable experience with them?

Duffy: In the summer I play for the KC Bullets. There have been many memorable experiences with them, but the two that stick out to me are when we played down at Wichita State during my sophomore year and playing at Arkansas last year.